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Sergeant Danny Hale is a 30-year veteran of the Nashville police force. He took the job as a young man knowing he would be exposed to danger and conflict.

But the national turmoil that continues to unfold over police shootings, anti-police protests and the recent murder of two New York City police officers — just days after one of Nashville's own officers was shot, but survived — have had an impact on rank-and-file officers such as Hale, who has as much invested in the police force as anybody.

Hale's wife is a Metro police officer. So is his son. And his son-in-law.

"This job has been a dangerous job since the day I took it on June 1, 1984," said Hale, training supervisor for the Metro Nashville Police Department's canine unit and president-elect for the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police. "It's probably not a bad thing to be reminded of that. Sometimes we get complacent.

"I always talk to my kids and say, 'be smart, be safe.' It's an important deal for us. I have a son and son-in-law on the job. I keep reminding him, keep watch on your surroundings, be careful."

Law enforcement officers have been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, with protests in Nashville and across the country after grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Mo., and Queens, N.Y., to not pursue charges against officers who killed suspects in the line of duty.

On Dec. 15, Metro police officer John Downs, an 18-year veteran of the Nashville police force, was shot in the leg near his groin during a shootout that killed 16-year-old teen-ager Xavier McDonald.

On Dec. 20, two uniformed New York police officers were shot dead as they sat in a police car on a Brooklyn street corner in what police believe was an effort to avenge the deaths of Eric Garner (Staten Island incident) and Michael Brown (Ferguson incident).

In Nashville the events have been greeted by peaceful protests and rallies. Police offered protesters hot chocolate and coffee on one cold November night. Protesters at times chanted, "No justice, no peace, no racist police." But unlike other protests across the nation, the protests and rallies in Nashville have been peaceful, with no arrests. On Dec. 22, a few dozen residents held a pro-police rally, holding signs saying: "Police Lives Matter" and "Thank you MNPD."

Hale said police appreciate the support they've received. The protests directed against police are sometimes frustrating, he said, but "we roll with it. It's one of those things you can't dwell on. ... We may not like the message they're putting out there, but we're protecting their right to do that. That's part of our job. You make sure to take care of yourself, make sure you take care of your fellow officers and make sure you take care of the public. That's job No. 1," Hale said.

Hale's comments were echoed by Sgt. Bill Miller, a 17-year veteran of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

"We're going to do our jobs professionally, ethically and morally," Miller said. "We are trained to understand that what is being yelled and screamed at us is not directly aimed at us. We're trained to handle comments. We are professionals, and we respect the right of any man, woman or child to exercise their constitutional rights."

But law enforcement officers also acknowledged the impact of the events in recent weeks.

"It has had a personal impact," Miller said. "You hate to see the country in such turmoil. You hate to see so many people that angry and hurting. As law enforcement, it's extremely painful whenever we lose a brother or sister. We train hard. We work hard. We're Americans. We're human beings. We bleed, we cry. We're just like any American."